Electronic switch



May 17, 1949. A. G. THOMAS ELECTRONIC SWITCH Original Filed Jan. 18, 1945:V

l Il /6 NWVVW W/ INVENTOF?.

Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRONIC SWITCH AlbertGe Thomas, Lynchburg, Va.

@riginal application January 18, 1945, SerialNo. 573,366.` Divided-and this application October 31, 1947, .Serial-No'.783,295

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electronic switches and is a division from my co-pending application Serial No. 573,366, led January 18, 1945, which has matured into Patent No. 2,432,260.

An object is to provide an electronic double throw switch for use in any suitable electrical circuit for making, breaking, or reversing circuits rapidly.

Another object is to provide an electronic double pole double throw switch for opening or closing circuits rapidly.

A further object is to provide a double throw electronic switch with common anode and separate cathodes.

An additionalobject is to provide an electronic switch with means for electrically connecting or disconnecting elements of the switch.

A further object is to provide ari-electronic switch with a plurality of electronic paths and associated control members which can be charged in varied combinations to connect or disconnect various combinations of paths or circuits.

ther objects will be apparent in the description.

The drawing shows a combination electronic switch of great exibility and of wide application in electrical circuits, especially where high speed oi operation is desired. Envelope I has partition 2 having passages I'I and Ion either side of anodes I3--I5 and lil-I6 which can'be connected or separate. Grid I9, with connected lead it, is providedin passage or opening I1. Similarly, grid 2i) is placed in opening I8 and has lead 22 sealed in partition 2 and envelope I. Lead 2l is likewise sealed in partition'Z and envelope l.

Partition 2 may be enlarged in thickness near its mid-point to form container Sand in conjunction with insulating cross partition i, two small chambers containing respectively, lament 23 connected to anode I3-I5, grid 25,- and plate 2i' connected to anode Ill-46, and lament 2li connected to anode Ill-IE, grid 26', and plate 28 connected to anode I3-I5. The filaments and grids are provided with suitable leads, not shown, brought out of the envelope through partition 2 similarly to lead 2I.

In operation, if grid I9 is made negative with respect to grids 'I and 8 or with respect to filaments II and I2 which may be connected, then electrons from filament I2 will not, pass through opening I'I to anode I3-I5 and electronsl from iilament I I will likewise not pass through opening I1 to reach anode Ill-I6. If, however, in corijunction with positively charged grids 'l and 8y (Cl. Z50-27.5)

grid IS is made positive, then electrons from both cathodes II and I2 can reach both anodesIS--IE and It-I t; or grid I9 may be made positive with respect-to grid I or cathode II so that electrons from that cathode will pass through ope-ning II to reach anode III-I6 and at the saine time grid I9 can be made negative with respect to grid 8 or cathode I 2 so that no electrons'from cathode I2 will reach anode I3-I5. It is assumed here that the anodes are connectedor that the anodes arevbiased-with respect tofthe proper cathode. At the same time, however, grid 8 can be positivelycharged'with respect to yfilament or cathode I2 so that electrons from that cathode will reach anode III- I6 which is suitably charged.

The same considerations hold for the elements on the opposite side of anodes-I3-I5 and lll-l5. Grids 5., 6, I, and 8 may be placed in any desired positions relative to openings I'I and I8 or with relation to thev cathodes or anodes. A positively charged grid is, in this description, considered asa grid not sufliciently negative to stop now of electrons tothe designated anode or electron receiver. A negatively charged grid is considered as a gridcharged negativelysubstantially to the point of'cut-oi.

Other combinations of charged elements can be employed.

If it` is desired to connect anodes I3I5 and Ili--I-for the conventional passage of current from the former to the latter, then iilament 2li will be energized to emit electrons and grid 2t can be used to controlthe electron flow from that fllamentto positively biased plate 28 and connected-anode I3-I5. Conversely if current flow` is desired-from anode I4-I 6 to anode Iii-I5, thenlament 23 is energized and grid g5 can be charged to-control electron flow to positively biased plate 2T connected with` anode Ill-I6. If current ow in both directions is desired, either intermittently or constantly, both laments can beenerg-ized and the electron how in both directions can be controlled or stopped altogether. By the above described means, the anodes can be electrically connected and disconnected very rapidly for any desired purpose such as for conditions in which a common potential source might be used, for switching operations, or for other circuitadaptations. Anodes or plates 2l and 2B may be positively charged with relation to the proper cathodes 23 or 24 by any suitable means.

Similar electronic bridging or connecting means can be placed between cathodes II-I2 or between cathodes- Q-Illvwhen itis desiredto join them electrically.

Openings I7' and I8 could be extended or placed near the cathodes so that electrons from one cathode could be attracted to the adjacent cathode through the openings, the iiow being controlled by grids I9 and 20. Small metal or graphite elements 29 and 3B, and SI and 32 may be attached to cathodes II, I2, 9, and Iii, respectively, in order to receive electrons from the adjacent cathodes. These elements may be of such size and so positioned that they will receive the electrons in order to prevent cathode disintegration. Either cathode may be made positive with respect to the adjacent cathode by means of a battery or other potential source or an electronic switch similar to that shown for the anodes may be used for one or both pairs of cathodes in order to connect them rapidly either positively or negatively with respect to each other.

It is apparent that this electronic device furnishes switching or relay means of exceptional simplicity, nexibility, and versatility, and can be operated at great speed.

Many variations of detail and many combinations, sub-combinations and altered arrangements of the devices described, can be readily made without departing from the principles I have disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a cathode adjacent one end of said envelope, another cathode adjacent the opposite end of said envelope, anode means forming a partition intermediate said cathodes, and control means intermediate said cathodes and said anode means.

2. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a rst cathode adjacent a first end of said envelope, a second cathode facing said first cathode and adjacent the opposite end of said envelope, a third cathode adjacent said rst end, a fourth cathode facing said third cathode and adjacent said opposite end, partition means forming a first chamber including said rst and second cathodes and a second chamber including said third and fourth cathodes, anode means for said first and second cathodes directly therebetween, anode means foi` said third and fourth cathodes directly therebetween, and a plurality of grids intermediate said cathodes and anodes to control electron flow from a plurality of said cathodes.

3. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first cathode adjacent a first end of said envelope, a second cathode facing said first cathode and adjacent the opposite end of said envelope, a third cathode adjacent said first end, a fourth cathode facing said third cathode and adjacent said opposite end, partition means forming a rst chamber including said rst and second cathodes and a second chamber including said third and fourth cathodes. anode means for said first and second cathodes directly therebetween, anode means for said third and fourth cathodes directly therebetween, and a grid adjacent each said cathode for controlling electron flow therefrom.

4. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a rst cathode within said envelope, a second cathode within said envelope facing said first cathode, a third cathode within said envelope adjacent said first cathode, a fourth cathode within said envelope adjacent said second cathode and facing said third cathode, partition means forming a rst chambei' including said first and second cathodes and a second chamber including said third and fourth cathodes, anode means for said first and second cathodes directly therebetween, anode means for said third and fourth cathodes directly therebetween, and grid means intermediate at least one said cathode and the anode receiving electrons therefrom for controlling electron iiow from at least said one cathode.

5. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first cathode within said envelope, a second cathode within said envelope facing said rst cathode, a third cathode within said envelope adjacent said first cathode, a fourth cathode within said envelope adjacent said second cathode and facing said third cathode, partition means separating said first cathode from said third cathode and separating said second cathode from said fourth cathode, said partition means having an opening therein, and a control element adjacent said opening.

6. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first cathode within said envelope, a second cathode within said envelope facing said first cathode, a third cathode within said envelope adjacent said first cathode, a fourth cathode within said envelope adjacent said second cathode and facing said third cathode, partition means separating said rst cathode from said third cathode and separating said second cathode from said fourth cathode, said partition means having an opening therein adjacent said first and third cathodes and another opening therein adjacent said second and fourth cathodes, and control elements adjacent said openings.

7. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first cathode within said envelope, a second cathode within said envelope facing said rst cathode, a third cathode within said envelope adjacent said first cathode, a fourth cathode within said envelope adjacent said second cathode and facing said third cathode, partition means separating said first cathode from said third cathode and separating said second cathode from said fourth cathode, anode means between said rst and second cathodes on one side of said partition means, other anode means between said third and fourth cathodes on the opposite side of said partition means, said partition means having an opening therein on one side of said anode means and an opening therein on the opposite side of said anode means, and control elements adjacent said openings.

8. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first cathode within said envelope, a second cathode within said envelope facing said rst cathode, a third cathode within said envelope adjacent said first cathode, a fourth cathode within said envelope adjacent said second cathode and facing said third cathode, partition means separating said first catlode from said third cathode and separating said second cathode from said fourth cathode, anode means between said first and second cathodes on one side of said partition means, other anode means between said third and fourth cathodes on the opposite side of said partition means, said partition means having an opening therein on one side of said anode means and an opening therein on the opposite side of said anode means, control elements adjacent said openings, and control elements between said cathodes and said anodes.

9. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first pair of opposed cathodes within said envelope, a second pair of opposed cathodes within said envelope, first anode means between said rst pair of cathodes, second anode means between said second pair of cathodes, a fifth cathode electrically connected with said rst anode means, an anode electrically connected with said second anode means and positioned to receive electrons from said fifth cathode, a control element intermediate said fth cathode and associated anode, a sixth cathode electrically connected with said second anode means, an anode electrically connected with said ilrst anode means and positioned to receive electrons from said sixth cathode, and a control element intermediate said sixth cathode and its associated anode.

10. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first pair of opposed cathodes within said envelope, a second pair of opposed cathodes within said envelope, rst anode means between said lirst pair of cathodes, second anode means between said second pair of cathodes, a fth cathode electrically connected with said first anode means, an anode electrically connected with said second anode means and positioned to receive electrons from said fifth cathode, a control element intermediate said fth cathode and associated anode, a sixth cathode electrically connected with said second anode means, an anode electrically connected with said iirst anode means and positioned to receive electrons from said sixth cathode, a control element intermediate said sixth cathode and its associated anode; and means within said envelope forming a container for said fifth cathode and associated anode and control element, and forming a container for said sixth cathode and associated anode and control element.

11, An electron discharge device comprising,

an envelope, partition means within said envelope forming a plurality of chambers, cathode and anode means in each of a plurality of said chambers, an auxiliary cathode connected with one of said anodes, an auxiliary anode connected with another of said anodes to receive the electrons from said auxiliary cathode, and means intermediate said auxiliary cathode and anode for controlling electron flow therebetween.

12. Same as in claim 11, and including control means intermediate said cathodes and anodes in said chambers.

13. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, partition means within said envelope forming a plurality of chambers, cathode and anode elements in each of a plurality of said chambers, another cathode connected with one of said elements in one chamber, another anode connected with a like element in another chamber, said other anode being positioned to receive electrons from said other cathode, and means intermediate said other cathode and said other` anode for controlling electron flow therebetween.

ALBERT G. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,128,279 Arnold Feb. 16, 1915 1,128,280 Arnold Feb. 16, 1915 1,655,270 I-Iull Jan. 3, 1928 1,768,660 Brackett July 1, 1930 1,925,558 Foster Sept. 5, 1933 

